At the beginning of the third century BC, the Roman expansion into Southern Italy amplifies, to the detriment of the colonies of Magna Graecia and their capitals. Taranto, after negotiating a preferred peace with Rome in 302 to a devastating conflict, was forced to react when Lucania and its capital Thurium pass under Roman control. To achieve this, it called on Phyrrus, the impetuous King of Epirus, who landed in Brindisi in 280, with 25,000 impetuous mercenaries as well as many elephants. 10,000 Lucanians and Bruttiens came as well complete the troops. This alliance had an enormous consequence on the colossal war effort. The mint in Taranto, between 276 and 272, struck many coins in gold in the denominations of staters or fractions. Despite his sensational victories, Pyrrhus, King of the Molosses, exclaims “another victory like this and I would be completely defeated”.